Fleur-de-lis

My friend Jenny was gracious enough to host a girls night last week.  Her hubby and daughters even went out of town for the weekend so we could "party it up".  ha.  (We love girls night around here!)  But this wasn't just any girls night.  Jenny added a little twist to make it a painting party!  Half of these ladies argued that they weren't creative and couldn't paint...but you look at the results and join me in telling them they're CRRRAAAAAAZZYYY!!

 Man, I LOVE these ladies and I relish any time I get to spend with them.  (And double thanks to Matt, Sarah's husband, for watching my boys for me so I could attend!!!)

The following two are the ones I ended up doing.  I didn't get a whole lot done that night.  I pretty much walked away with just the base coats on each.  I've realized lately that I don't "craft" well with company.  I always do more chatting then crafting. So I finished these over the next few days.

This is my tribal Fleur-de-lis. { I love.} 



Want to make your own?  Or want to host a girls night painting party?  Very simple!  Jenny recruited me to help her with some of the details, so now I'll share with you.

Supplies needed: 

blank canvas

acrylic paint

paint brushes

computer w/Internet

computer paper

Pencil

copier (optional)

freezer paper

exacto knife

Clear acrylic gloss spray

Step 1:  Google "Fleur-de-lis pictures"

Step 2:  Look through the image results and choose one you like.  Or two or three.  :-)  Open it up.

Step 3:  Put a piece of computer paper up to your computer screen and trace the design!

Step 4 (optional):  If you have a copier at home as part of your printer then you should have the ability to enlarge the image.  You can also take it to any office supply store and have them do it for you as well.

Step 5:  Once you have the image enlarged to the size you want lay your freezer paper over it and trace it onto the non-sleek side of the freezer paper.

Step 6:  Use your exacto knife and cut out the image.

Step 7:  Paint the base coat on your canvas.

Step 8:  Take the stencil you made and trace it with a pencil onto your canvas.

Step 9:  Paint away!!!!

Step 10:  Spray with the clear acrylic sealer and hang to enjoy!

If you want to host a party you can make a variety of stencils in different designs and sizes.  Jenny bought some actual stencil paper she found on sale that we used for a few, but the rest we used freezer paper for.  Jenny bought all the canvas' and paints for us and we just paid her a "cover charge" for the cost of the materials.

Other random comments: 

• We used 11x14 canvas', but you can choose whatever size you want.  You could make a set of smaller ones. 
• For the smaller size Fleur-de-lis I made them fit inside a 5x7 that way you could fit four of them evenly on an 11x14 canvas
• If the image on your computer screen is the size you want it without having to enlarge it, just use your freezer paper and trace it onto there. 
• Don't limit yourself to Fleur-de-lis!!!  Think about all the AMAZING cross designs out there!!!  Or whatever else your heart desires.
• I used a small crafting exacto knife.  You can get a basic one at HL, or similar craft store, for $2/$3.  I prefer my Cutter Bee knife though.  I actually got it at Walmart in the scrapbook section.  It has a retractable feature on the blade which is a little tricky to figure out. (I actually bought two.  I thought the first one was broke so I exchanged it for the one I currently have.)  Anyway.  I think I paid closer to $10 for it, but it also came with 5 extra blades.